TSN’s team of hockey enthusiasts is gearing up to unveil their highly anticipated annual Top 50 NHL Players list, and the buzz is palpable. However, there will be a notable absence from this year’s rankings – none other than the Washington Capitals’ legendary captain, Alex Ovechkin.
This revelation comes as a shock to many, considering Ovechkin has been a fixture on the list since its inception in 2010. The Russian superstar has experienced the full spectrum of rankings, from soaring to the lofty heights of No. 2 in 2010 and 2011, to dipping to No. 33 in last year’s standings.
Last season was a tumultuous one for the 39-year-old winger, who got off to a sluggish start by his standards, tallying a mere five goals in his first 29 games. However, Ovechkin rallied after the All-Star break, unleashing 26 goals and 36 points in just 36 games, leading his team to secure the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
In the end, Ovechkin concluded the season with 31 goals and 65 points in 79 games, marking his lowest goal and point totals in a full-length season throughout his illustrious career.
TSN hockey analyst Frank Corrado weighed in on Ovechkin’s ranking, stating, “He ends up getting 30-plus goals last season, and that might be what Ovechkin is now. He’s just a goal scorer, and he’s not steamrolling guys on the forecheck the way he used to. He was able to discover a bit of a goal-scoring touch at the end of the season, and I expect that to continue this year. But that alone does not make you a Top 50 player unless he can put up 40, 50, or 60 goals on the board.”
Despite his exclusion from this year’s list, the 6-foot-3 winger remains a player to watch as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s hallowed all-time goal-scoring record. Ovechkin currently sits at 853 goals, just 41 shy of the seemingly insurmountable milestone.
The Capitals organization stands firmly behind their star player, expressing unwavering confidence in his ability to replicate his past successes. They firmly believe that Ovechkin is poised to shatter the record either this season or the next, reaffirming their faith in his unparalleled skill and determination.
As hockey fans eagerly await the unveiling of the Top 50 NHL Players list, the absence of Ovechkin serves as a stark reminder of his enduring legacy and the undying quest for greatness that defines his remarkable career.
